Undergraduate Admissions

Are you equal parts sculpture and writing? Interested in filmmaking only? At SAIC, we help you navigate a dynamic interdisciplinary curriculum that gives you the freedom to explore new possibilities, guides you professionally, and prepares you for a creative future.

SAIC student internships offer opportunities in a mindblowing variety of fields, from fashion and tech to media and nonprofits. SAIC's art- and design-focused internship program is one of the oldest and most successful in the US.

At SAIC, you earn about a quarter of your credits by choosing from an array of fascinating and relevant courses in the liberal arts and sciences. The combination of creative, research, problem-solving, and rigorous thinking skills you gain as a result gives you an unusually strong foundation for life after SAIC, whatever path you choose.

We're one of the only museum schools in America, affiliated with the world-class Art Institute of Chicago since the museum was founded. Don't be surprised if, in the middle of a class, your professor decides to walk the class over to see a specific artwork at the world-renowned Art Institute. You'll have free access to more than 300,000 works of art (the third-largest collection in the world) right in your backyard.

Chicago is an easily navigable and endlessly inspiring landscape of 77 distinct and richly diverse neighborhoods, and SAIC sits at its creative apex. You’ll learn in the heart of the city’s vibrant art and design scene, supported by a network of faculty and local alums.

From the decidedly analog (our foundry) to state-of-the-art (3D printing, laser cutting, a bio lab), there are no limits to realizing your creative vision.

SAIC awards merit and need-based scholarships and grants to help break down barriers to access.

Federal and state aid assistance is available for our graduate and undergraduate students.

To help finance your education, there’s a wide range of financial aid options available outside of SAIC.